As each of the sweet fur-faced friends I have been privileged to share my life with over the years begins to age, I always tell them, “We’ll go through this time together too.”

When their eyesight is not as keen and their hearing not as strong, when it takes them longer to get up and move, and when their muzzles are covered with gray, I remember my promise to be with them to the end, and to know when that time should come.

I hold on to every precious moment with them then, as I have enjoyed every precious moment before.

My parents are at that point in life as well. Today is their 66th wedding anniversary. They are in their 80’s, my father nearly 90 and mamma five years younger. Daddy’s eyesight is poor and his hearing not as great as he would like, and mamma often walks in pain. Daddy’s body is pretty strong for someone pushing 90, though. Mamma is grateful for every day, as the inoperable portion of the cancer doctors could not remove last November continues to grow inside her, fortunately not quickly but still …

She says she has no complaints with God, and both have said as long as God can use them, He will keep them alive to serve Him.

I believe that to be true. Many times God has rescued them from death’s grasp, and they continue to serve Him in many ways.

I am grateful my folks are still independent and able to do as much as they can. But I know this isn’t an easy time for them.

It’s closer to the end of the road than the beginning. There are fewer vibrant memories to make than memories from the past to cherish.

Tasks that used to be easy are now a challenge.

Thoughts that used to come easily and remain, now vanish too quickly to catch.

Pain is more constant, although they both have known their share of that throughout their lives.

Every day brings a reminder of how precious the remaining moments are, and how important it is to make them count.

Although there never were guarantees of a tomorrow, there are even fewer now. Each day is precious. Every moment is a treasure to be held with love and reverence.

Old age may not always be “golden,” but every moment with those you love should be treasured like “gold.” 

This is the final stretch, perhaps one of the toughest, for my folks, but just as they have for 66 years before, my parents will “go through this time together too.”